Letting Go ... Still ... On this Thanksgiving

Originally Published October 10, 2020

Last Thanksgiving I wrote a blog about the art of letting go and finding acceptance in what is. Back then our life was changing rapidly as we journeyed a new frontier with Paul's lung disease. Paul was struggling a lot that October and he was in the midst of testing to determine if he would be a double lung transplant recipient. At the time I couldn't even allow myself to think what this Thanksgiving might bring. Our life was so uncertain, yet we were learning how to let go of what was and find richness in what is.

Now, here we are again. The entire world's comfort in certainty is turned upside down. COVID continues to dictate caution in how we're living our lives, and how our Thanksgiving gatherings will look different for each of us. This year we are all called to the art of letting go. Letting go of what was, and our expectations of what is yet to be.

I've been a bag of emotions these past weeks. Sadness ... anger ... resentment ... and grief. It's been a confusing time for me, and distressing for those around me. You know the story when your emotions take over and those nearest and dearest to you get to pay the price. Thankfully those who love me are patient and kind ... and well ... they love me. I had to shake myself up and call myself out to uncover what was going on for me. I had been neglecting my gratitude practice, which keeps me balanced when things aren't to plan. I had fallen down the dark rabbit hole of hanging on to what "should be" with sadness, anger, and resentment. Why? because it's October and thanks to COVID we're still living a very isolated existence day to day - to protect Paul's health. I've been deeply missing all the face to face, heart to heart physical connection with all the kids, friends, and family. I've been angry at IPF disease, and how our news and media fuel anxiety and fear in compromised people like Paul. I've been grieving my freedoms and have been jealous of others who haven't been so tightly bound. I've been projecting my discontent out into the world when truly, I have a choice and simply needed to get back to seeking the richness of what is. This doesn't mean stuffing emotions. It does mean acknowledging all of it, embracing it, and allowing myself to "be" with those emotions, and then letting go. Letting go of what was, and embracing what is. Focusing on what is good, and the richness life gives me, despite it all.

I've gotten back to my gratitude practice, and it's taken no time to tip the scale and be pulled out of the rabbit hole. I am letting go of all that "should be" and I am again focused on what's good, and "what could be". I am reminded that the art of letting go is a constant in life. As we all learn to ebb and flow with the tides, "pivot" with COVID, and everything else this world dishes up for us, there is always a richness to be had and enjoyed - even in the darkness, we can find the light. We simply need to embrace what is, be grateful, and love. Love ourselves and each other, in whatever ways we are able. And so now, I am reminded to seek the richness, and this Thanksgiving is very RICH!

This Thanksgiving will again be the same small circle as last year. The deep RICHNESS in this brings tears to my eyes. You see. It's ALL four of us! My mom, Paul, Kaela, and me. Oh, we will deeply miss the rest of the kids, most definitely! But there is so much richness, pure joy, and gratitude in knowing - these 4 seats are taken! Life is good!

I AM grateful. My heart is full. I hope yours is too.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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About the author:

Karen Hendrickson is an Elevation Coach, focused on helping others to rewrite their life story, befriend their mortality, and find the richness and magic that lives at the intersection of our lives where life and death meet. When we allow our authentic self permission to shine our life becomes full of MAGIC and GREATNESS.  Contact karenttjourney@gmail.com and start working with her today!